GMCT Programs and Events

Brisk Winter Walks 2009

This is the schedule for the Great Meadows Conservation Trust winter walks for 2009, co-sponsored with the Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Glastonbury and the Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center in Wethersfield.

Sunday, Jan 4, 1:30 pm, Rocky Hill. Meet Larry Lunden at Ferry Park on route 160. A short hike to our Methodist Church parcel in the Rocky Hill Meadows.

Saturday, Jan 10, 10 am, Wethersfield. Meet Jim Woodworth on Middletown Ave south of Maple St. Hike into our Wood parcel and continue through the farming fields along Beaver Brook. See photos, map and learn more about the Wood Parcel.

Saturday, Jan 17, 10 am, Glastonbury. Meet Larry Lunden on Point Rd, off of Naubuc Ave south of route 3 overpass. A long hike to our Dickau, Beers and Bidwell parcels in Point Meadows.

Sunday, Jan 18, 1:30 pm, East Hartford. Meet Jim Woodworth at Hockanum Park on High St. A long hike to our Wilson-Carvalho and Hockanum Meadows parcels. This is in cooperation with Goodwin College, who is planning to use the area for student education.

Sunday, Jan 25, 1:30 pm, Glastonbury. Meet Larry Lunden behind Glastonbury Town Hall, 2143 Main St. A short hike to our Preissner parcel.

Saturday, Jan 31, 10 am, Wethersfield. Meet Jim Woodworth on Hartford Ave. at corner of Jordan La for a short walk to our Wolf parcel and DeMille easement. See habitat improvements made with the help of a WHIP grant; and clean up of CL&P right of way. Stay for a longer walk out along the Hartford dyke that divides Folly Brook Nature area from South Meadows Industrial Park.

Saturday, Feb 7, 10 am, Rocky Hill. Meet at end of Goff Brook La off of Old Main St. Join Larry Lunden on a long hike to several of our new Hayes parcels in the Rocky Hill Meadows.

Sunday, Feb 15, 1:30 pm, Glastonbury. Meet Larry Lunden at the end of Hollister Way North, off of Main St north of the end of the route 17 exit ramp. Park at the end near the barn or next to the tennis courts. A short hike to our Austin and Matava parcels in Glastonbury Meadows.

Walks will last 1 to 2 hours. Dress for the Weather and ground conditions. Many places will be muddy. Weather and water conditions may revise or cancel. Call the CT Audubon Society for the latest information, 633-8402. Free. Donations will be accepted.

CT Trails Day Hikes in Wethersfield and Rocky Hill, Saturday, June 7
Wethersfield
1. Historic Mill and Birding Hike. 8:30 am to noon. A varied 2.5-mile loop hike along stream and ponds, with stops at sites of four former water-powered mills where we'll see foundation stones and two millpond outlets (waterfalls) that were part of an historic industrial stream system. Hike begins and ends at the town Nature Center, follows Goff Brook through Mill Woods Park passing several ponds, and continues along Griswoldville Road and Highland Street. At each mill site, processes and products will be discussed, including the hydraulic system that powered the manufacturing. Historic land-use will be compared with suburban development, including adaptation of mill features for flood control, landscaping, and preservation of wetlands, farmland, and wildlife habitat. Participants can expect to see great blue heron, hawks, bluebirds, and other birdlife. Terrain is moderate with gradual ups and downs over lawns, sidewalk, and fields. Sponsored by Great Meadows Conservation Trust, Griswoldville Preservation Association, and Town of Wethersfield Nature Center. Meet 8:30 am at the Nature Center, 156 Prospect Street. No rain date. Co-Leaders Jim Woodworth, info@gmct.org, 860-808-9968; and Martha Mayer, m.mayer1@cox.net, 860-257-1705.
2. Walk/Bike. 10 am to noon. Heritage Way Trail, sponsored by the Wethersfield Conservation Commission. Walk or bike 3-4 miles on dirt roads through The Meadows alongside agricultural fields. Great area for birding and wildlife. Those who wish can continue to the Rocky Hill Ferry Landing. Meet at rear of Putnam Plaza Parking lot. From I- 91 southbound take exit 26; turn left at end of ramp and right at T; Putnam Plaza will be on left. From 1-91 northbound exit 26; Putnam Plaza will be on right. Bring water and wear comfortable shoes. No rain date. For details and information call James Schumaker, 860-563-4229.

Rocky Hill
CT Trails Day - Join Ken Etheridge - Saturday, June 7
Nature Walk. 8:00 am to about 11:00 am. Connecticut River Floodplain, Great Meadows Conservation Area, sponsored by Connecticut Audubon Center Glastonbury and Great Meadows Conservation Trust. Easy 3.0-mile walk over flat terrain. Join Ken Etheridge, GMCT naturalist, for an exploration of the meadow, marsh, and wooded habitats of the floodplain where as many as 50 bird species can often be spotted. Meet 8:00 am next to ferry landing at Ferry Park on Route 160, Rocky Hill. Bring beverage, snack, and bug spray; dress for the weather and ground conditions (long sleeves, long pants recommended). Conditions may revise or cancel. Visit www.gmct.org or call CT Audubon Center, 860-633-8402, for up-to-date information. Leader Ken Etheridge, kee134@aol.com, 860-635-6751.
See All Hikes - CT Forest and Parks Association - CT Trails Day Brochure

Great Meadows Conservation Trust, Inc.
Call to Annual Meeting

Date: Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Time: Dinner: 5:30 pm - Meeting: 7:00 pm - Program: 7:30 pm
Place: Connecticut Audubon Center at Glastonbury,
1361 Main St, Glastonbury
Just south of the intersection of Route 17 and Main Street.

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7:30 pm Program: Attorney Russell L. Brenneman:

"Rescuing Connecticut - Land Saving Action."

Attorney Brenneman was "present at the creation" of the Trust 40 years ago, and over his distinguished career, has profoundly influenced environmental law, institutions and policy in Connecticut and beyond. An "Of Counsel" member of Murtha Cullina's Environmental Department, he concentrates his practice on land use, environmental protection, and natural resource law. He served as special counsel to Commissioner Dan Lufkin when the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection was organized. He is Chairman of the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters, Educational Fund, and serves as a member of the International Council of Environmental Law. For a number of years, he taught environmental law at the University of Connecticut School of Law, and currently teaches environmental policy at Trinity College. Mr. Brenneman is nationally recognized in private and charitable land-saving techniques.

View 2007 Annual Report

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A Catered Dinner will precede the meeting and program

5:30 pm - Hors D’Oeuvres featuring a locally made cheeses from Cato Corner Farms, crackers and wine
6:00 pm - Buffet - Soup - Salad - Chips Sandwich Platter Dessert with Tea or Coffee"

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Please reserve no later than March 24th for the dinner Wednesday, March 26
The cost per person is $25.00
Questions may be directed to Lisa Olsen - 633-8417

Name(s): _____________________________________________________________________
Phone Number________________Address___________________________________________

Number Attending: ________ Total Enclosed: ________

Please enclose a check payable to - GMCT - and mail to:
GMCT Annual Meeting, E. A. Olsen, 52 Hitching Post Lane, Glastonbury, CT 06033

Spring 2008

Historic Mill and Birding Hike. 8:30 am to noon . An varied 2.5-mile loop hike along stream and ponds, with stops at sites of four former water-powered mills where we’ll see foundation stones and two millpond outlets (waterfalls) that were part of an historic industrial stream system. Hike begins and ends at the town Nature Center, follows Goff Brook through Mill Woods Park passing several ponds, and continues along Griswoldville Road and Highland Street . At each mill site, processes and products will be discussed, including the hydraulic system that powered the manufacturing. Historic land-use will be compared with suburban development, including adaptation of mill features for flood control, landscaping, and preservation of wetlands, farmland and wildlife habitat. Participants can expect to see great blue heron, hawks, bluebirds, and other birdlife. Terrain is moderate with gradual ups and downs over lawns, sidewalk, and fields. Sponsored by Great Meadows Conservation Trust, Griswoldville Preservation Association, and Town of Wethersfield Nature Center . Meet 8:30 am at the Nature Center , 156 Prospect Street . No rain date. Co-Leaders Jim Woodworth, info@gmct.org, 860-808-9968; and Martha Mayer, m.mayer1@cox.net, 860-257-1705.

Winter 2008

Join the Great Meadows Conservation Trust for a series of winter nature walks for 2008, co-sponsored with the Eleanor Buck Wolf Naure Center, Wethersifield, and the Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Glastonbury.  

Special Walk in Wethersfield and Rocky Hill
- Goff Brook from Mill Woods to the CT River
Saturday, January 5, 10 am, Wethersfield. Meet at the Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center on Prospect Street in Wethersfield. Join Nature Center Director Christopher Shepard and GMCT President Jim Woodworth for a walk (and van ride) along accessible stretches of Goff Brook as it flows over dams, through woods, between yards and parking lots, under streets and highways, eventually meandering through the meadows to the Connecticut River. We will fill trash bags, leaving the brook cleaner, as we examine the role of the stream in carrying pollutants toward the river...while cleansing the water on the way. See what you missed!

Saturday, January 12, 10 am, Rocky Hill. Meet at the end of Goff Brook lane. Join Larry Lunden on a long hike to our new Hayes parcels in the Wethersfield - Rocky Hill border area. See the details of Plan B...high water hike!

Sunday, January 20, 2 pm, Wethersfield. Meet Jim Woodworth on Hartford Avenue (at the corner of Jordan Lane) for a short walk to GMCT's Wolf parcel and DeMille easement. See habitat improvements made with the help of a WHIP grant, clean up of CL&P right of way. Stay for a longer walk up Hartford Ave. and out along the Hartford dyke that divides the Folly Brook Nature area from the South Meadows Industrial Park. See the details!

Saturday, January 26, 10 am, Wethersfield. More than 30 walkers met  Larry Lunden south of the Putnam bridge on Great Meadow road next to the highway exit for a long hike to view our Packtor, Wolcott, Finnegan-Fox, Hale and Standish parcels. In the photo, Larry talks about our easement on the Hale parcel, a triangular piece that runs across Hale Creek in the direction of Crow point. Evidence of beaver felling and stripping of large trees on the edge of the excavation ponds marks the former Comstock, Ferre & Co. seed farm.

Sunday, February 3, 2 pm, Wethersfield. Fifteen walkers met Jim Woodworth on Middletown Ave. south of Maple St. on a sunny warm day after Ground Hog day for a hike into our Wood Parcel along newly wood chipped path, past the new bench, with marsh view marsh, the streambed improvements and future bridge site. Then they walked down into the marsh, carrying the hemlock planks for the temporary bridge over Beaver Brook. Circling on the path around the knoll, they observed the 18th Century Robbins House foundation pictured in the photos supplied by Sarah Wood, before heading out along the corn field above the marsh. Walkers came prepared for mud...and New England weather prepared a demonstration of the fertile clay-rich soil that nurtures the legendary Anderson Farm sweet corn and spinach.

Saturday, February 9, 10 am, Wethersfield. Twelve walkers met Larry Lunden at the Elm St underpass under I-91, many with mud stil on their boots from last week's walk. The hike follwed Elm Street under I 91 out the the river, revealing a view of the south side of Crow Point. Turning south the road led past the Wolcott and Crilly parcels now included in the long narrow field hilled into bean rows. The group moved on down the road following the river as it meandered east, where we walked into the Nowak hayfield and to some of the parcels recently donated to the Trust by the Hayes family. In addition to red tail hawk sitings, possible peregrine falcon siting, an immature Eagle was sited winging its way over the meadows.

One more winter walk...with Goodwin College
Sunday, February 10, 2 pm., East Hartford. Fifteen walkers met with Jim Woodworth at Hockanum Park (on High Street in East Hartford) for a long walk to the GMCT's properties in the Hockanum Meadows with our host from Goodwin College, Todd Andrews. The cold north wind and snow squalls held off, as walked in breezy sunshine. Old maps helped us visualizing the "hook" in the Connecticut River that left behind the Wethersfield Cove, Keeney Cove...and a triangle of Wethersfield "East" when it straigtened out c. 1700. We stood under the former Cuban Social Club pavilian and learned about Goodwin College's plans for a new environmental education program that could use a renovated pavilian and a portable environmental lab. We looked upriver to see Goodwin College's new classrom building rising on the former fuel tank farm north of Pratt and Whitney's Wilgoose Test lab. As we walked, we imagined wildlife habitat improvement projects, perhaps replacing meadows overgrown with multiflora rose with meadow grasses. Likewise, we imagined a bike trail that might wind its along old farm roads through the Hockenum Meadows to the Putnam Bridge, someday connecting with Glastonbury and Wethersfield over the Putnam Bridge.

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